Best Syndication - Middle East

(Best Syndication News) - Domino’s Pizza announced that they have reached a milestone by opening their 10,000th store in Istanbul, Turkey today. The company started their first location almost 53 years ago in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Domino’s Pizza is a mix of franchises and company-owned stores.

To celebrate their 10,000th store, Domino’s President and Chief Executive Officer, J. Patrick Doyle, was present for the grand-opening event. According to Domino’s Pizza, Turkey is one of the fastest growing markets for them.

(Best Syndication News) - The first total eclipse for 2011 is starting in the late night hours of Wednesday, June 15. A total lunar eclipse will occur between June 15 and June 16 and will be long lasting; it is just not viewable in the United States. People living in India, much of the West African Continent, parts of Australia and Asia will have the best view of the total eclipse.

According to NASA, the total lunar eclipse will last 1 hour and 40 minutes. The whole event of entering in and out of the eclipse will last 3 hours and 39 minutes. This has been the longest total lunar eclipse in the last 11 years, which was on July 16, 2000 and lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

(Best Syndication News) - The US Department of the State has issued a worldwide travel alert for US citizens that are either traveling or visiting outside of the US. The travel alert will expire on August 1, 2011. The warning was in response to the recent death of Osama Bin Laden which could further cause anti-American violence.

The agency recommends that US citizens in anti-American areas should limit traveling outside of their hotel rooms or homes. They should also avoid any mass gatherings or demonstrations.

In the following statement released today, McKeon also called upon the President to ensure the Administration implements the sanctions included in the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010 in the most aggressive manner possible:

“With the enactment of new U.S. government sanctions, the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions can no longer go unanswered. The theocracy will now be forced to choose between the economic prosperity of its citizens and a nuclear program that has been condemned by the international community.

“By signing the Iran Sanctions Bill into law, President Obama has committed his Administration to fully enforcing these sanctions. Along with many of my House colleagues, I believe the President should implement these sanctions aggressively and without delay.

“Additionally, I will continue to work to ensure that specific provisions within the House-passed defense authorization bill, which prohibit the Pentagon from contracting with entities that engage in commerce with Iran's energy sector, are signed into law.”

[Best Syndication News] New claims that archaeologists have found the biblical Noah's Ark remnants. They have showed some wood from what they think is the ship and have had it carbon dated back to the time of Noah.

The evangelical Christian archaeologists from Hong Kong are claiming to have found Noah's ark buried in a glacier. The exact location of the discovery has been kept secret. All they have disclosed is that the ark is somewhere in the eastern Turkey's Mount Ararat.

Yeung Wing-Cheung, one of those on the expedition, filmed the inside of the boat for about an hour. Yeung told ABC News that he was 99 percent sure that this discovery was the remains of Noah's Ark.

(Best Syndication News) Today's the day. This afternoon we're going to have a vote on whether or not the United States gets out of Afghanistan or stays there indefinitely.

It's time that Congress weighed in. The Constitution makes it very clear that the War Powers are vested in the Congress. Unfortunately, a series of Presidents have made decisions to take the country into a war and to keep the country in war without seeking Congress' expressed permission. So this is, in fact, a Constitutional issue and that should be of interest to members of Congress from all over the nation, whatever their political persuasion.

[Best Syndication News] Archaeologists from Israel believe they have found ancient fortifications that would date around 3,000 years ago, around the time of King Solomon. This wall artifact helps support biblical references to the era of King Solomon and the massive fortifications built in the 10th century B.C.

The Bible accounts for the Hebrew Kings David and Solomon were rulers of Jerusalem around the time that this archaeological finding dates back to this time frame. The argument has been that King David's monarchy was mostly over inflated with no government that was a superpower of the time.

The archaeologist, Eilat Mazar from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said that this is one of the best finds that they have from the First Temple days of Israel. Mazar believes that the fortifications that they found was built by King Solomon.

[Best Syndication News] The doomsday clock will be reset on Thursday and you can watch it get set live on the internet. The closer the clock is to midnight the more the world is closer to nuclear war or the end of mankind so to speak. The doomsday clock is used as a visual reminder of mankind brink of reaching the end of the world as we know it, or the apocalypse.

The doomsday clock current time is five minutes before midnight. It was last changed in January of 2007 when they moved the clock forward two minute from seven minutes to five minutes before midnight. They changed the clock in 2002, and in 1998. In the history of the clock it has been changed a total of 19 times, tomorrow with make it 20 times.

[Best Syndication News] Dubai has been becoming a tourist attraction because of the luxurious architecture, now on Monday, the world's tallest building will open called the Burj Dubai. The building cost $20 billion to construct and will celebrate the grand opening with a celebration that includes fireworks.

The Burj Dubai has a staggering 160 floors and stands 2,635 feet in the air but is yet to be confirmed as to the final structure height after construction.

When looking at the skyline of Dubai, you see other skyscrapers that are dwarfed in comparison to this building.

There will be 900 residences located on floors 19 through 108. There is an observation deck located on floor 124. There is also a hotel included in the building. There is reports that their will be the world's highes mosque located on the 158th floor of the building.

(Best Syndication News) Although the police chief of Tehran says no one has been killed, other government officials report the death of several protesters. YouTube videos indicates that fighting has begun between Iranian riot police and civilians. The Iranian Supreme National Security Council says that eight protesters have been killed.

The Shiite Holy Day of Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, was marked by violence. According to a report from CNN, protesters were able to corner a handful of police who were ordered to combat them. As the crowd pushed the police against the wall, on protester pointed his finger at them and yelled “Why are you doing this?"

(Best Syndication News) The Alliance For Community Action of Wrightwood, Pinon Hills and Phelan is hosting a special screening of the documentary “Rethink Afghanistan”. The film questions the wisdom of prolonging the conflict in Asia.

According to Michael Urmann, spokesperson for the group, over 90 percent of the U.S. funding in Afghanistan goes to military purposes. “The problems facing Afghan society are economic, social and political in nature, and require economic, social and political solutions,” Urmann said in a statement.

(Best Syndication News) President Barack Obama will cover various issues in his speech on Thursday including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He will also mention the broader Israeli- Arab issue, according to the Whitehouse.

It is estimated that there are between 1.2 and 1.66 million Muslims in the world today. They make up roughly 20 percent of the world’s population (6.7 billion people in the world as of June 2009). The president is being attacked by both Muslim and rightwing extremists for his proposed speech.

The Middle East countries or as some like to call it (West Asia) includes countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf States) is claimed by westerners politicians as an area engulfed in greater violence and instability than ever before. Without asking why? As the west see it is because of the failed or failing governments the control of Arab countries is shifting to the hands of Islamist fundamentalist armed militias or similar militant organisations.

Therefore, West Asia is in a state of violence turmoil and radically opposed to the United States and the West. In fact, states like Syria and Iran are the most vulnerable and perceived threats by employing proxies like the Hezbollah and Hamas to keep the United States diverted and occupied in other theatres.

(Best Syndication News) As President Barrack Obama is preparing to reduce troop levels in Iraq and increase them in Afghanistan, some liberals are questioning that decision. Filmmaker and liberal activist Robert Greenwald is preparing to release a series of video documentaries that urge Americans to rethink Afghanistan. His films can be found at www.BraveNewFilms.org.

Critics are calling the Afghanistan war “Obama’s Iraq”. Howard Zinn is calling the plan to send 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan "disastrous." In on one article he said “The history of wars fought since the end of World War II reveals the futility of large-scale violence.” The US is not doing any better in Afghanistan than the Soviets did in the 1980s.

(Best Syndication News) Israeli warplanes are now focusing their bombing campaign on the southern Gaza Strip, according to the aid agency, CARE international. Israel has warned residents to leave the cities. Many Palestinians have fled to refugee camps where Israel is now accused of using white phosphorus bombs. The Israeli army has denied using phosphorus munitions in Gaza.

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, says Israel is trying to “wipe out” his people. As Israeli war planes and tanks continue to wage war in the strip, Palestinian fighters are firing back with roadside bombs, mortars, and anti-tank rockets. Commander of Israeli Operations, Brigadier General Eyal Eisenbert, told reporters “We are not static, we are careful to be constantly on the move… We are tightening the encirclement of the (Gaza) city.”

(Best Syndication News) After weeks of warnings, Israel responded to regular rocket attacks from Hamas with a barrage of air strikes (see map and video below). Both Israel and the United States have recommended that Hamas accept the West Bank settlement expansion and human rights violations reported by the United Nations.

"We strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence there," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement. Without mentioning the West Bank, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday "Israel withdrew from Gaza approximately three years ago not in order to return to it.” The rockets have been coming from the Gaza Strip.

(Best Syndication News) Although Osama bin Laden is isolated from the day to day operations of al Qaeda, the group is planning and preparing for attacks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, according to CIA director, Michael V. Hayden. While US forces are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan the terrorist organization is planning attacks in other regions of the world (see video below).

Hayden said the group is making new partnerships to establish new bases. They are “strengthening” in Yemen while moving their veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to stage attacks against the government of Saudi Arabia.

(Best Syndication News) The Iraqi government has wanted to prosecute American soldier for years, but now a new pact with the U.S. may allow trials for some crimes. The crimes will be limited to "major and premeditated murders" committed off base by soldiers and contractors.

Several years ago Iraqi authorities were denied the opportunity to prosecute American soliders for rape (see video below). As far back as 2004 Iraqi authorities wanted to put U.S. soldiers on trial for rape and / or murder. They were denied that opportunity and the soldiers are usually tried in the US. This lack of cooperation with the Iraqi justice system has caused a strain in relations between the two countries.

(Best Syndication News) The United States has been dropping bombs on innocent villagers according to the Pakistan government. Over the past few months the US has been firing rockets from Predator drones over Pakistani territory in an effort kill Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.

Pakistan Demands US Stop Attacks

Shah Mahmood Qureshi told Pakistani community leaders and businessmen in Dubai on Friday evening that this assault has to end. “Innocent people have lost their lives. Women and children have lost their lives in these attacks and we have openly spoken out about this to the US,” Qureshi said.

(Best Syndication News) Tensions have risen between the United States and Pakistan after it was learned that President George Bush signed a secret executive order in July giving Special Forces carte blanche power to cross into Pakistan to carry out raids against suspected terror sights. Pakistani soldiers manning a border checkpoint fired on a U.S. helicopter near the Afghan / Pakistan border.

Department of Defense spokesperson Jim Garamone said that the OH-58 Kiowas helicopter did not intrude into Pakistan and was flying in “Afghan airspace.” No one was hurt and the helicopter was not hit, but some fear that this could lead to another US conflict in the region. The Pakistan Newspaper reports that the tensions are “heightened” as the U.S. steps up missile strikes and reports a possible raid into Pakistan earlier this month by special operations forces.